Browns game notes part 2

Steve Doerschuk

Monday

Sep 24, 2007 at 12:01 AMSep 24, 2007 at 4:13 PM

Points from Oakland's victory over the Browns

Flag Day

The Browns were penalized a season-worst nine times for 64 yards. Two flags that really hurt – pass interference against Andra Davis and holding against Leigh Bodden – helped fuel an 80-yard touchdown drive that gave the Raiders a 23-17 third-quarter lead.

Brodney Pool is off to a rough start in his first year as a full-time starting safety.

Covering Jerry Porter in the end zone in the second quarter, Pool jumped way too soon and clumsily rammed into Porter for a pass interference penalty.

Strong safety Sean Jones bailed him out moments later by knocking a third-down pass out of Mike Williams’ hands in the end zone.

The replacement

Whereas Paul Ernster dropped the ball on his first punt against Pittsburgh, new punter Scott Player boomed the ball with confidence all day at Oakland.

“I felt good,” Player said, “but it’s a loss, so ...”

Player, 37, punted five times and had a strong 46.4-yard net (factoring in the punt and return yardage). Shane Lechler, Oakland’s outstanding punter, had a 41.0 net.

Regular punter Dave Zastudil stayed home with a bad back. Player’s effort Sunday might prompt the Browns to give him an extra week to let Zastudil’s back heal.

Beating Barry

Browns linebacker Kamerion Wimbley put a blindside belt on quarterback Josh McCown that caused a fumble on Oakland’s first snap. Wimbley beat Barry Sims, who beat out Robert Gallery for the left tackle job. Sims recovered the ball.

Gallery is starting at left guard. The former No. 2 overall pick was booed after getting flagged for holding in the first quarter. Moments later, Gallery sprang LaMont Jordan for a 14-yard run.

Early in the fourth quarter, Gallery left the field and was led to the X-ray room, favoring his right arm.

Warren report

Browns QB Derek Anderson was sacked just once, but the one was a doozy.

Former Brown Gerard Warren batted the ball out of Anderson’s hand for a sack and a fumble that produced a 24-yard loss. Warren had two other tackles in the game.

Injured defensive end Derrick Burgess, one of the league’s top pass rushers, was replaced by Jay Richardson, a rookie out of Ohio State.

Richardson had a quiet game with three assisted tackles.

Extra points

- Kellen Winslow Jr. was called for his second offensive pass interference infraction in three games. This time, it wiped out an 8-yard completion to Braylon Edwards.

- Winslow had a six-catch, 88-yard game. He had a career-high 100 yards a week earlier against the Bengals.

- Raider fans hate San Francisco. Their only reaction during the announcement of scores from the early games was to cheer Pittsburgh’s win over the 49ers.